Harriet Tubman: Conductor, Soldier, Humanitarian
A Life of Freedom, Courage, and Purpose
Photo: U.S. Mint
Harriet Tubman Woman of. Courage – Today, we journey through one of the most powerful stories in American history, a story of courage, determination, and an unshakable belief in freedom.
It’s the story of Harriet Tubman. A woman born into slavery… who would go on to lead others to freedom, serve her country in war, and spend her life caring for those in need. Her story so often is centered around her work on the Underground Railroad. While this courageous commitment to freedom is one that is truly her legacy – there so much more to the women once called Moses or “Moses” or “the Moses of her people”. This nickname was given to her because, the remarkable journeys she made leading enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad, never losing a “passenger” during her rescue missions. But there is more and – Today….we say her name and we tell her story.
Hher extraordinary life is honored through the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Program, issued by the United States Mint—a collection of coins that tells her story through three defining chapters of her life.
Chapter One: The Conductor
Harriet Tubman was born around 1822 on a plantation in Maryland.
Her birth name was Araminta “Minty” Ross.
From the very beginning, her life was marked by hardship, danger, and resilience.
But even in those early years, there was something within her—something strong and unyielding. A determination. A belief in freedom.
In 1849, Harriet Tubman made a decision that would change not only her life—but the lives of countless others. She escaped slavery.
Traveling under the cover of darkness, guided by the North Star and the hidden network known as the Underground Railroad, she made her way to freedom in Pennsylvania.
For many, that would have been enough. But not for Harriet Tubman. She went back. Not once. Not twice. But 13 times. Over the next decade, she returned to Maryland again and again—risking her life each time—to guide others to freedom. She personally led about 70 people to safety. And provided instructions that helped another 70 people escape on their own. She later said something that still echoes through history: “I never lost a passenger.”
The silver dollar in the commemorative coin series honors this chapter of her life—her work as a conductor, guiding people out of bondage and into freedom.
Chapter Two: The Soldier
When the American Civil War began, Harriet Tubman did not step back. She stepped forward. In 1862, she joined the Union Army. She began as a nurse, caring for wounded soldiers. But Harriet Tubman was never meant to stay in just one role. She became a scout. A spy. A leader.
She used her knowledge of the land, her courage, and her ability to move quietly and strategically to gather intelligence for the Union Army. And then came one of the most remarkable moments of her life. The Combahee River Raid.
Harriet Tubman became the first woman in American history to lead an armed military expedition. Under her leadership, Union forces traveled along the Combahee River in South Carolina. That mission resulted in the freedom of more than 700 enslaved people. Seven hundred lives changed in one night.
The half dollar coin in the commemorative series represents this chapter—her service during the Civil War. Her courage. Her leadership. Her unwavering commitment to freedom.
Chapter Three: A Life of Service
After the war, Harriet Tubman could have chosen to rest. She had done more than most could ever imagine. But once again—she chose service. She settled in Auburn, where she would spend the remaining 54 years of her life. And there, she continued her work.
She supported newly freed men and women trying to build new lives. She cared for the elderly. She opened her home to those who had nowhere else to go.
Later in life, she established what would become the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, a place where people could live with dignity and care. But she didn’t stop there. Harriet Tubman also became a powerful voice for women. She traveled and spoke at gatherings supporting women’s suffrage, advocating for the right of women to vote. She spoke about civil rights. She spoke about equality. She spoke about access to healthcare. Her work was never limited to one group of people. She believed in freedom—for everyone.
The $5 gold coin in the commemorative series represents this final chapter of her life. A life dedicated not just to freedom—but to humanity.
The Meaning Behind the Coins
Each coin tells part of her story:
- The silver dollar reflects her work on the Underground Railroad
- The half dollar represents her Civil War service
- The $5 gold coin honors her later years in Auburn, caring for others and advocating for justice
Together, they form a portrait of a life lived with purpose. A life that never turned away from the fight for freedom.
Harriet Tubman’s story is not just about the past. It’s about courage. It’s about purpose. It’s about what one person can do—when they refuse to accept the world as it is and instead work to change it.
She walked into danger so others could walk into freedom. She stood in spaces where she was not expected—and led anyway. She gave her life to something greater than herself. And even today, her story asks us a quiet question.
What will we do with the freedom we have?
Because history is not just something we remember. It’s something we continue. And sometimes… it’s carried forward in the smallest of ways. Even in something as simple as a coin.
And that’s today’s journey.
Photos:
Commemorative Coins
Each photo: U.S. Mint
Photos from Auburn and Cayuga County
Harriet Tubman’s Home for Aged
Harriet Tubman’s New York Home – Auburn, NY
Quilt with Harriet’s image in the Cayuga Tourism Center
Cayuga Tourism Center
Mural in downtown Auburn
Tourism Office
Statue in downtown Auburn
U.S. Mint video – Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coins Act
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